Mr Big can Stuff his rivals in Epsom opener June 3, 2022 DERBY Day gets underway with the fiercely competitive looking three-year-old Cazoo handicap (2.00pm) with at least half a dozen contenders looking extremely well-treated. Top of my shortlist has to be the Richard Spencer-trained MR BIG STUFF, who looked a shade unlucky in last month’s London Gold Cup at Newbury. The son of Iffraaj has been raised [...]
All about red, white and blue in Princess Elizabeth June 3, 2022 YOU MIGHT think we’re watching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon when the commentator mentions Bashkirova and POTAPOVA at Epsom, but in fact they’re two of the leading principle for the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (2.35pm). Both are owned by Cheveley Park Stud and with both holding solid claims, it’s unsurprising both are vying for favouritism. Bashkirova did [...]
Emily can overcome June test and Up John to four Oaks wins June 2, 2022 THERE aren’t too many boxes left unticked by this year’s overwhelming Cazoo Oaks (4.30pm) favourite EMILY UPJOHN. She has the strongest form heading into the race, is sired by a Derby winner and has Frankie Dettori in the saddle. The way she demolished fields by wide margins at Sandown and York couldn’t have been more impressive, [...]
Emily enjoys Downs gallop ahead of Epsom Classic May 23, 2022 Tom Marriott reports from yesterday’s Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning at Epsom Downs Racecourse. AFTER a pair of pulsating wide-margin victories this season, Emily Upjohn is a shade of odds-on with most bookies to win the 2022 Cazoo Oaks in 10 days’ time. She streaked away from her rivals by nine-and-a-half lengths at Sandown last month, before [...]
O’Brien’s Stone coming of Age for Derby Day May 9, 2022 Tom Marriott reports from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base ahead of the Cazoo Derby Festival IT’S ALL change at Ballydoyle. Not just the installation of floodlights and speedometers on the gallops at Aidan O’Brien’s already state of the art training establishment – the home of a record-breaking eight Derby winners – but most importantly with the horses set to [...]
French fillies to the fore in 1000 Guineas and Dahlia Stakes April 29, 2022 I’LL BE waving my French flag at Newmarket on Sunday as I’m keen on the chances of two fillies trained across the English Channel both of whom are trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. The first is MALAVATH in the Qipco 1000 Guineas (3.40pm), who I’m confident will put up a bold show in the first fillies Classic of [...]
Couple of outsiders might Trail Native home in the Guineas April 29, 2022 NEWMARKET’s Qipco 2000 Guineas (3:40pm) marks the first Classic of the season and also the first chance for UK Tote customers to bet on domestic action with the World Pool. A field of 15 runners are set to go to post, and other than odds-on favourite NATIVE TRAIL the race has an open look to it, so [...]
Boys in Blue set to land back-to-back Blue Riband Trials with Nahanni April 19, 2022 TO SAY that Charlie Appleby’s stable is red hot at the moment would be a complete understatement. The form figures of the last 10 runners from the yard read as follows: 1111211122. It’s been a lightning start to the campaign for the master of Moulton Paddocks and I’m expecting his sole runner at Epsom Downs [...]
SECOND CAN TURN THIRD INTO FIRST THIS TIME AROUND April 7, 2022 Bill Esdaile’s Grand National 1-2-3-4-5 Any Second Now Run Wild Fred Delta Work Longhouse Poet Fortescue BUSINESS as usual. That’s the message from Aintree as the crowds flock back in their thousands after last year’s ‘behind-closed-doors’ Randox Grand National. However, one notable absentee this year is Tiger Roll, who will not be bidding for a historic [...]
Three Stripe Life looks a Steel in Mersey Novices’ Hurdle April 7, 2022 SATURDAY’S Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2.25pm) doesn’t look the most competitive Grade One and the one that stands out on form is Gordon Elliott’s THREE STRIPE LIFE. This son of Leading Light has finished second in each of his three starts this season – all in Grade One company – and on the last two occasions has [...]
